According to the statement issued on Wednesday, the year-long process to define the status of these three nations within ECOWAS has been completed and the move has become effective.
The note stated that the regional bloc had decided to keep doors open and requested member countries to continue to give the three countries membership privileges, including free movement of people within the region with an ECOWAS passport.
ECOWAS is a regional bloc of 15 countries, founded in 1975. Its mission is to promote cooperation and economic integration among their nations.
Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali created last year their security partnership, known as the Alliance of Sahel States, and announced their decision to leave the regional group.
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